Second Annual Village Arts and Craft Expo
Clive Myers
Another activity being held this Saturday takes place at the newly renovated Memorial Park. It is the second annual Village Arts and Crafts Expo which will showcase the talents of Belizean artisans to local and international visitors. Expectations are high as the number of participating entrepreneurs has doubled. The Village Arts and Craft Expo is the medium for these small entrepreneurs to network with stakeholders in the tourism industry. News Five spoke with Destination Planning and Development Coordinator, Clive Myers, who is inviting everyone to come out and witness Belizean talent from the length and breadth of the jewel.
Clive Myers, Destination Planning & Development Coordinator, B.T.B.
“Based on the success of last year’s event, the Board decided that we will be having another expo. The objective of the expo is to bring the local artisans from the villages throughout the country—north, south, east and west—to one centralized location, which this year will be at memorial park, to showcase their handicraft; to give them the opportunity to meet with the hoteliers and the gift shops and also an opportunity for our own Belizeans to see what Belizeans have to offer as souvenirs, gift items and the like.”
Duane Moody
“What are the expectations this year?”
Clive Myers
“Well certainly, the expectations are higher than last year’s because we had eighty people participating in the expo last year and this year we are already at a hundred and forty plus. So in terms of participants, we have grown already. We should be aware that our country has a lot of local resources and the creative minds with these local artisans is where we have items from basketry, the ti-tie and the clothing, textile…we have bottles wines, bottled pepper, carvings, you have would sculptors. All of that will be at the expo. It is going to be a really healthy event where there is going to be pieces of everything.”
The Memorial Park, through the Sustainable Tourism Development Project and the B.T.B., will also be official opened this Saturday.
